Joseph Sykes, age 79, of Amherst, VA, former owner of Sykes Florist, U.S. Marine Veteran, GHS Alumni 1946

JOSEPH M. SYKES

 A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Gloucester City, for Joseph M. Sykes, 79, of Amherst, VA, formerly of Gloucester City, who died April 7, 2008

 Mr. Sykes was a graduate of Gloucester High School (Class of 1946), the Philadelphia School of Floral Design and was a US Marine Corps Veteran. He was the former owner of Sykes Florist in Gloucester City and had been a charter member of the Gloucester Mustangs Athletic Assoc. After moving to Virginia, Mr. Sykes was a Public Address Announcer for horse shows. He was a member of the Marine Corps League Detachment #759 of Lynchburg, the Professional Horsemen’s Assoc., Village Garden Club of Amherst, and was a charter member of the Lynchburg Chapter of the Military Order of the Devil Dogs. Mr. Sykes was also an active volunteer at Salem Veterans Memorial Hospital where he volunteered over 1000 service hours.

 He is the beloved husband of Elizabeth A., loving father of Susan Ivins and her husband Charles, and the dear brother of the late William and Patricia Sykes. His loving grandchildren Stephen J. Pierson, Charles, Curtis and Tamara Ivins, great grandchildren Christopher, Katelyn, and Jacob, brother and sisters-in-law James O’Donald, Nancy Landisio, Claire Sykes, Lillian O’Donald, close life long friends Edward and Joanne Dennery and family, many loving nieces and nephews also survive him.

 Funeral Services were held at Etherington-Creran Funeral Home, 700 Powell Street, Gloucester City. Interment of Ashes to follow in the Camden Co. Veterans Cemetery at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden.